Method of producing a substantially complete combustion of fuel.



P. H. BROWN,

METHOD OF PRODUCING A SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE COMBUSTION OP FUEL.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 8, 1908. RENEWED DEG. 30,1912.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

nuzmror Gnome qvihmooco F. H BROWN.

METHOD 0? PRODUCING A SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE COMBUSTION 0F FUEL. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1908. RENEWED DEC. 30, 1912. l fi fi o Patented Feb. 11,1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

m uwotnmdo wa /f P. H. BROWN.

METHOD OF PRODUCING A SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE COMBUSTION OF FUEL,

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 8, 1908. RENEWED DEC. 30, 1912. 1,052,796.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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runners 11. Brown, or PHILADELPHIA, rENNsYLvAnIA, AssIeiioR or own-sonar r0. Jonn' s. LA'ITA, ONE-FOURTH 'ro THOMAS L. LATTA, AND one-rooms r James LATTA, ALL or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF PRODUCING A SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE COMBUSTION O1 FUEL.

Application filed December 8, 1908, Serial No. 466,530. RenewedDecember 30, 1912. Serial No. 739,875.

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it lmown that I, FRAN -Cls H. Bnown, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia,

' State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new bustion of fuel under ordinary operatingconditions. To accomplishthis in practice the draft for rimar combustion is controllable, and t e dra t for secondary com-' bustion is controllable, the air for secondary combustion being heated to a desired temperature before it is introduced into the furnace above the bed of fuel, and also automatically regulating the injection of steam superheated to a desired temperature into,

such heated air or preferably directly into the furnace above the' bed of fuel, in proximity to the discharge of the heated air into Y the furnace, whereby a new chemical reaction takes place within the furnace since the steariiintroduced is heated to such a degree that it becomes separated into its com onent elements so that such elements are ree to recombine in a new manner with the oxygen of the heated air and, the combustible elements in the products of combustion which are a result of the primary combustion of the fuel, it thus being seen that by my novel method that the gases and elements uncon? sumed by the primary combustion are caused to recombine with other elements in such a manner that a new supply of combustible matter is produced in the furnace and ignited, burning at a very high tem erature, and as is evident, causing comp ete and smokeless combustion and the consequent development of a very high heat eflicienoy with the use of all kinds of fuel.

Another object of my present invention is to devise a novel method of regulating combustion whereby a substantially perfect combustion of fuel is secured in WlllCl'lIlO smoke is produced, and any unconsumed combustible matter in the products of incomplete combustionare consumed and the greatestpossible heat efiiciencyof the fuelobtained.

My.invention further consists of a novel method of regulating combustion wherein the draft for primary combustion is auto- Speoiflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 11, 1913.

matically controlled and wherein air heated to a desired temperature isintroduced into the furnace above the fire, and simultaneously with the introduction of this heated air the elements of decomposed steam are intions of temperature and pressure within the furnace and the volume of superheated air and steam entering the furnace above the 'fire for secondar combustion, vanes proportionately to t '16 volume of air entering beneath the grates for primary combustion. My invention further consists of a novel method of regulating combustion, whereby any desired constant of furnace conditions maiy be maintained at all times.

my method may be carried out in practice, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one type of a furnace wherein such method may be advantageouslycarried out,although it is tobe understood that my method is not limited to use with the special type of furnace shown, but may be carried out in many other constructions or types of furnace and fuel consuming mechanism such as grates and stokers of various improvedtypes.

In the drawings, Figure 1 re resents a sectional elevation of one type 0 construction in a furnace wherein my method'may be carried out. Fig. 2 represents a sectional planv view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a sectional elevation of a furnace in conjunction with which my novel method may be very advantageously carried out. Fig. 4 represents a section on line a'a:, Fig. 3.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

designates a furnace provided with an ash pit 2, grates 3 and a combustion chamber 4.

5 designates a boiler which is connected by means of a conduit 6, with a fan or other draft producing mechanism 7, which latter is provided with a conduit 8, which connects with the ash pit 2 beneath the grates 3, said conduit being provided with a valve 9 which is operatively connected with a lever 10,

order to illustrate one manner in which 45 from the boiler and passing through.suitwhereby the same may be manually actuated .when desired, it being understood that intermediatethe steam connection 6 and the draft producing mechanism 7, I providea regulating mec anism 11 of any approved or conventional type.-

12 designatesa furnace stack which has pivoted therein at 13a damper 14.

15 designates an arm which is secured to the damper 14, said arm having connected therewith a suitable cable '16 which passes over pulleys 17 supported in proximity'to the' furnace and this cable is operatively drawings being a pressure regulator.

connected with a'regulating mechanism 18 primary combustion as most clearly seen in Fig. 2, said conduits passing through the bridge wall 21 to the rear of the furnace, at which point they are deflected upwardly as indicated at 22, and then deflected forwardly as indicated at 23, the same extending toward. the front of the furnaceand terminating above the grate 3, at which point they are provided with a series of discharge openings 24, whereby the heatedair may be discharged into the fire above the grate. 1 I

25- designates a conduit connecting with the conduits23 preferably beyond the bridge wall, said conduit 25 being provided with a of apertures or slots 26 arranged therein in any suitable manner.

The end's'o'f the conduits 20 which connect with the ash pit 2 have an enlarged diameter inwhich is pivoted a damper 27 to which is operativelv connected a cable 28 provided with a counterbalance 29, said cable'28 passing over pulleys 30 and being connected with a pressure regulator 31 of any conventional ordesired type. V

32 designates a steam conduit leading able controlling valves and thence into the .7 heat zone of the furnace, said conduit being provided with two'branches 33 and 344which enter the furnace and communicate w th the conduit 3, the latter being arranged within 1 the furnace in any desired manner in order that the steam passing through suchconduit 35 will be highly heated, it being understood from Figs. 1 and 2 that this conduit is provided with branches 36 which discharge into [the furnace above the bed of fuel.

ing in any desired manner.

40 designates thermostats operatively con nected with the bell crank levers 39, said thermostats extending into the furnace and preferably through the conduits 23, the ends of said thermostats being fixed as indicated at 41 in any suitable manner.

44 designates a valve located inthe conduit 33, said valve being operatively con nected with a cable 45 to which is secured a counter balance 46, said cable passing over suitable pulleys 47 and being operatively' connected with a suitable pressure regulator such as the regulator 31. 48 designates acable which passes over suitable pulleys 49, one end of said cable being operatively connected with the damper 27, the other end thereof being operatively connected wit-h the. valve 37, which is controlled by the thermostats 40. In the operation of the mechanism herein shown, the draft producing. mechanism 7, which controls the passage, of air through the conduit '8, for primary combustion, is automatically controlled by the steam pressure in the boiler 5, it being understood that when desired, the amount of air passing through the conduit 5 into the ash pit 2, may be regu- If the firedoors are opened, thereby causthe pressure regulator 31 will instantly be operated and owing to the provision of the cable 45 operativ-ely connected with the valve 44, said valve will be opened and steam may pass through the conduit 33 into the heat zone wherein it becomes superheated and is discharged into the furnace abovethe bed of fuel, preferably at a point near the discharge ports 24 for the heated air, and an increased volume of heated 'air will be drawn in through'the conduits 23 and delivered into the furnace above the fire. This heated air and fiuid is introduced at such a of are broken up so that as soon as the same enters the furnace and comes into contact with the unconsumed products of combustion therein, a recombining of the elements takes place so that a secondary and complete combustion is produced.

As the pressure wit sumes its normal condition the pressure regulator will permit the valve44 to. gradually close. The thermostats which control air being delivered through the conduits 23 lated or entirely shut oft by manually actuing a change of pressure within the furnace,

temperature that the component parts therehim the furnace as the valve 37 will maintain a certain opening of such valve, due to the temperature of the above the fire, so that while the thermostat is the main controlling element of the volume 'of air being delivered above the fire, the pressure regulator will control the volume of air delivered above the fire at such times as a greatly increased volume of heated air and fluid is required, such as is necessary when the fires are freshly charged.

50 designates a furnace provided with an ash pit 51, grates 52 and a combustion chamber 53, which latter is provided with the baflle plates 54 and 55 in order that the products of primary combustion will be suitably deflected, it being noted that the baffle plate 54 extends rearwardl from the front of the furnace while the ba e plate 55 extend forwardly from the top of the bridge wall 56.

57 designates a boiler which is connected by means of a suitable conduit with a draft producing mechanism 58 provided with a suitable regulating mechanism 59, said draft producing mechanism discharging between the grates 52, through the conduit 59,'said discharge being manually controlled when desired by means of a suiQlgle damper 60.

61 designates a pressure r gulator which is operatively connected with a damper 62 in the stack 63.

64 designates an air conduit leading from the conduit 59 and passing through the bridge wall into the heat zone of the furnace, such conduit extending rearwardly toward the rear of the furnace and then being deflected forwardly and discharging through the bridge wall, as is indicated at 65.

. 66 designates the boiler tubes, it being noted that an upper baflle plate 67 and a lower baffle plate 68 is provided for suitably deflecting the passage of the products of combustion to the furnace stack 63.

69 designates a pressure regulator which is operatively connected with-qa' damper 70 in the conduit 64, said pressure regulator being also operatively connected with a valve 71 in a by-pass 72 leading from a conduit 73, which latter communicates with the boiler 57.

74 designates a by-pass leading from the conduit 73 and provided with a suitable controlled valve 75 which latter is operatively connected by means of a suitable cable with the damper 70.

' 76 designates a thermostat which is lo-' cated in the heat zone of the furnace and is operatively connected with the valve 75. The by-passes 72 and 74 discharge into a common conduit 77 which is arranged in any suitable manner within the heat zone of the furnace and passes through the bridge wall I 56, discharging into the combustion ch mber.

53 in proximity to the discharge out et of the conduit 64. v

The operation of my novel method, in conjunction with this type of a furnace seen by reference to the operation already .de- I scribed with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, and I have therefore deemed it .unnecessary to describe in detail the operation of this embodiment since it would be largely a repetition of the description of the operation of the construction seen in Figs. 1 and 2 to whichI have hereinbefore referred.

In the present instance I have shown but two constructions wherein my novel method may be very advantageously carried out and excellent results obtained in practice, but it is of course evident that these simply show certain types of a mechanism to illustrate the manner in. whichmy invention may be carried out in practice.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as newand desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The method of causing and controlling combustion of fuel, which consists in introducing into the furnace below and above the.

temperature, and independently introducing fluid under pressure, automatically controlled, into the furnace above the bed of fuel.

2. The method ofproducing combustion of fuel which consists in introducing into the furnace, below and above the fire, a volume of air varying in relative proportion, the air entering the furnace above the fire being heated to a desired temperature, and introducing a volume of steam automatically controlled and heated to a desired temperature into the furnace above the fire.

3. The method of regulating combustion, which consists in automatically controlling the introduction of air delivered beneath the bed of fuel for primary combustion, simultaneously therewith automatically regulating the passing of a portion of such air into the furnace above the bed of fuel for secondar combustion, such portion of air being heate to a desired temperature during its transit, and automatically regulating the introduction of steam heated to a desired temperature into the furnace above the bed of fuel, the volume of said air and steam for secondary combustion varyingrelatively and simultaneously to the volume of air for primary combustion.

4. The method of regulating combustion, which consists in introducing air beneath the grates for primary combustion, automatically regulating such introduction, introducing, simultaneously and in relatively varying volume, air into the furnace above the grates and heating the same to a desired temperature during its transit, introducing steam heated to a desired temperature into the furnace above the fire for secondary combustion, and automatically regulating the introduction of the steam by varying conditions of pressure within the'furnace.

5. The method of regulating combustion which consists in automatically regulating the introduction of air beneath the grates for primary combustion, and simultaneously automatically regulating .the -introduction of air above the grates for secondary combustion, the air above the grates being heated to a desired temperature andvarying in volume proportionately to the air delivered beneath the grates for primary combustion, and the temperature of the heated air bein automatically controlled by varying con itions of combustion.

6. The method of regulating combustion which consists inautomatically varying the i volume of air, for primary draft, to meet the changing rates of combustion within the furnace, and automatically diverting a desired portion of said primar draft, heating such portion to a desire temperature, and causing the same to enter the furnace above the bed of fuel, and automatically regulating the introduction of superheated steam above the bed of fuel.

7. The method of regulating combustion, which consists in automatically regulating the introduction of air from a common source simultaneously beneath and above the fire, so that the volume of air delivered, above the fire, varies proportionately to the volume of air delivered beneath the fire, the air delivered above the fire being heated to a desired temperature, within the heat zone of the furnace, and automatically regulating the introduction into the furnace above the fire simultaneously with the introduction of the heated air, superheated steam. l

8. The method of controlling combustion which consists in automatically varying the supplv of air for primary draft to meet the changing rates of combustion, and automaticallydiverting a desired portion of said primary draft, heating such' portion to a desired degree and causing the same to enter the furnace above the bed of fuel, and

automatically regulating the introduction above the bed of fuel of steam heated to a suflicient temperature to combine with the elements of the heated air and with any unconsumed combustible elements resulting from the primary combustion.

9. The method of regulating combustion, which consists in automatically regulating the introduction of air beneath the grates for primary combustion, and simultaneously automatically regulating the introduction of air above the gratesfor secondary combustion, the air above the grates being heated to a desired temperature and varying in 'volume proportionately to the air delivered beneath the grates for primary combustion, the temperature of the heated air being automatically controlled by varying conditions of combustion, and simultaneously and automatically controlling the exit from the furnace of the products of combustion.

10. The, method of regulating combustion, which consists in automatically varying the volume of air for rimary draft to meet the changing rates 0 furnace, automatically diverting a desired portion of said primary draft, heating such portion to a desired temperature, and causing the same to enter the furnace above the combustion Within the I bed of fuel, automatically regulating the in-. i I

troduction of superheated steam above the bed of fuel, and automatically controlling the exit from the furnace of the products of combustion.

' .11. The method of producing combustionwhich consists in establishing and maintaining a substantially uniform condition of pressure within the furnace above the grate, supplying air beneath the grate and cording to the desired rate of combustion,

and supplying a restricted quantity ofair .and anindependent restricted quantity of steam above the grate, and varying the ;amount of air and steam thus supplied above the grate according to variations in the rate of combustion.

12. The method of causing and controlvarying the amount of air thus supplied ac- I ling combustion of fuel which consists in establishing and automatically maintaining i a substantially uniform condition of pressure above the furnace fire and introducing below and above the bed of fuel a volume of air automatically controlled; and independently introducing into the furnace above the bed offuel superheated steam, and automatically controlling the supply of saidsteam.

13. The method of regulating combustion, which consists in introducing below the bed of fuel a volume of air automatically controlled for primary combustion, introducing above the bed of fuel a volume of air automatically controlled, independently introducing into the furnace above the bed of fuel superheated steam, and automatically controlling the supply of said steam, the volume of air and steam introduced into the furnace above the bed of fuel automatically varying relatively to and simultaneously with the variation in the volume of air for primary combustion.

FRANCIS H. BROWN.

Witnesses:

HERBERT S. FAIRBANKS, C. D. MoVAY. 

